Sharper Image Reviews

Pros

It was just a part-time summer job, and pretty fun for that type of thing.

Cons

Our store was shut down.

Pros

When new items arrived at the store, we were encouraged to play with the new products to learn more about them in order to sell them with more confidence and experience.

Cons

Company pushed employees to reach a quota on store credit card sign ups.

Advice to Senior Management

Overall excellent management. Very fair with days off when needed.

Pros

My coworkers, the guys and gals that invented the products and designed the gadgets, were absolute gems... human resources and accounting not so much.

Cons

During my time at this company I went through a few hostile takeovers.

Some that survived the layoffs were bitter miserable people that threw others under the bus to save themselves. All of us knew we were going to lose our jobs at a certain point so the hostility some of the rank and file showed towards the end was completely unnecesary. I hope they didn't carry that poison to their next position.

Advice to Senior Management

Dear Chairman & Board of Directors: when trying to lower a company's stock price so you can purchase more at a discount it might be a good idea to NOT run your investment into the ground.

You ruined the reputation of 3 CEOs that were trying to keep the company together and over 2000 people employed.

Pros

There are a lot of cool gadgets to play with and they were never really that busy.

Cons

horrible management, there was no leadership what so ever. Every manager contradicted what the other manager said. It was a lot like office space with the TPS report. I felt like going to work every day was like working with the boss from office space. It was one of the most miserable working experiences of my life and I am honestly happy the company went under. They didnt care about their employess or their customers. Their executive team was an absolute joke. Good riddance.

Advice to Senior Management

take some management classes, it was a joke

Pros

Playing with new products. In order to write about new products, it was necessary for me to PLAY!!! The office often became a test course for whatever fun new product we could get our hands on. The other fun people working herer is why everyone stays.

Cons

If you started at the entry level, you were paid very low and raises were minimal and did not make up for it. Very stressful work environment due to the high work volume and deadlines every day.

Advice to Senior Management

This company went out of business, so this is not applicable anymore. The culture was built around one man, Richard Thalheimer, and when he was victim to a hostile takeover, the company couldn't recover. He was too controlling to make it work any longer anyway. The company got too big.

Pros

The people are the best part about the company except for management. Seeing new products before they we're released to the public was great and the discount on items was also great. The location of the headquarters was beautiful as it was right next to the bay bridge. The bus stop is also right in front of headquarters. There was a corporate store if you ever wanted anything which made it very easy to buy last minute gifts with the corporate discount. Overall I feel that The Shaper Image was a fun place to work in if it wasnt for some large negatives.

Cons

The lack of information from senior management during turbulent times hurt the moral of many of the company's workforce. Layoffs seemed to be a lottery system with no news whatsoever. Those who were laid off were escorted out without even being able to go back to their desk.

Advice to Senior Management

Share more information with your works who you have left out of the dark on important decisions.